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Rockhounding near Fresno, CA

45 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Fresno — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.

Covering parts of California, Nevada.

Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Fresno, California

Closest rockhounding spots to Fresno

The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.

Most-reported finds near Fresno

Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.

Hunting something specific near Fresno?

These materials have enough dedicated spots around Fresno to earn their own page, with distances and a separate map.

Every spot within 150 miles of Fresno

Sorted by distance from Fresno. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Clark ValleyFresno County36.7510, -119.3764Public
Clark Valley (North Side)Fresno County36.7729, -119.3471Public
Unnamed Location (Grossular garnet)Fresno County
  • Grossular Garnet
  • Vesuvianite
36.9091, -119.3757Public
Benitoite Gem MineSawmill Creek RoadSan Benito County
    		36.3368, -120.6064Paid / fee
    Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek RoadFresno County36.0962, -120.3204Public
    Aurora Mine (permission required)Mexican Lake RoadSan Benito County36.3949, -120.6741Permission
    Benitoite Mining CompanyLos Gatos RoadFresno County
      		36.2424, -120.5973Paid / fee
      Surprise ClaimMariposa County37.6583, -120.0544Public
      Unnamed Location (Jade)Mariposa County37.6463, -120.1177Public
      Purcell-Griffin MineMariposa County37.6622, -120.1956Public
      Unnamed Location (Mariposite)CA 132Mariposa County
      • Mariposite
      		37.7132, -120.2122Public
      Paso Robles AreaUnion RoadSan Luis Obispo County
      • Jadeite
      		35.6379, -120.6274Public
      Little Acorn MineChaparral CourtKern County35.7167, -118.5000Public
      Coyote CreekDunne AvenueSanta Clara County37.1500, -121.5783Public
      Morgan Hill CreeksWatsonville RoadSanta Clara County
      • Poppy Jasper
      		37.0551, -121.6636Public
      San Simeon BeachesCabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.6421, -121.1833Public
      Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast)Cabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.5952, -121.1272Permission
      Limekiln Creek Beaches AreaCabrillo HighwayMonterey County36.0087, -121.5196Permission
      Big Sur areaLos Burros RoadMonterey County35.8938, -121.4523Permission
      Willow Creek areaCabrillo HighwayMonterey County35.8922, -121.4613Public
      Ocean Beaches (Central Coast)Atascadero RoadSan Luis Obispo County
      • California Jade
      		35.3833, -120.8650Public
      New Almaden Area MinesBertram RoadSanta Clara County
      • Chert
      • Cinnabar
      • Apophyllite
      • Gyrolite
      		37.1760, -121.8208Public
      Aurora Ghost TownAurora RoadMineral County38.2883, -118.9017Public
      Fish LakeEsmeralda County
      • Apache Tears
      		37.7418, -118.0542Public
      AuroraMineral County38.2896, -118.8891Public

      Fresno rockhounding FAQ

      Where can I go rockhounding near Fresno?+
      There are 45 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Fresno, California. The closest is Clark Valley in Fresno County, roughly 23 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
      What rocks and minerals can you find near Fresno?+
      Spots within driving distance of Fresno most commonly produce gold, silver, jasper, lead, agate, copper.
      Is rockhounding legal near Fresno?+
      Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
      How far do most rockhounders drive from Fresno?+
      Most weekend trips from Fresno fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.

      More state coverage

      The spots above span 2 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.

      Pack Fresno's rockhounding map in your pocket

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